Marek Malik could be the next addition to the Lightning’s ever-evolving defense. The 6-foot-5, 233-pound unrestricted free agent is expected in Tampa this week, though it is unclear if he will sign a one-year, $1-million contract or practice as a tryout.

Add the expected return, perhaps as soon as Thursday against the Islanders, of Paul Ranger (shoulder), and Saturday’s addition of Lukas Krajicek, and you have a real episode of Extreme Makeover.

After the team (0-2-1) allowed 126 shots, the worst three-game stretch in club history, it needs it.

If I hadn’t seen Sean Avery and Marek Malik throwing punches at one another during practice today, I wouldn’t have believed it.

But what had been a mere one-on-one battle during drills today quickly escalated into shoves and then an all-out fight between the 6-foot-6 Malik and the 5-10 Avery, lasting maybe 30 seconds before it eventually ended. For those scoring at home, we’ll call it Malik by TKO.

Words were exchanged after that. At one point, Avery could be heard saying, “What are you,a tough guy? Why don’t you play like that in a game?”

Sather, we’re told, is demanding the equivalent of a top-four defenseman in return for Malik, who carries a cap charge of approximately $950,000 the remainder of the way for this, the final season of his contract.

While there is widespread interest around the league in Malik, no GM has been willing to meet Sather’s requirement for making a deal.

We know Marek Malik skated today. We know he had a talk with Tom Renney and his teammates before practice and we know, by all outside indications at least, that the team is trying to put the events of last week behind it.

Defenseman Marek Malik’s equipment was not in his practice locker and could be on the move.

“Right now it’s just an internal matter,” said Tom Renney. Asked if Malik would be at tonight’s game, Renney responded:.“That’s to be determined.” Asked if he was suspended, Renney declined to answer. Asked if he was still on the team, the answer was: “He’s a Ranger.”

For how long, who knows?

Renney wouldn’t confirm that the 6-foot-6 Malik, 32, an unrestricted free agent who has played just and the target of Garden boo-birds all season, was being traded. Malik was scratched for four of the last nine games.